Page 81 of The Consequence of You
“Seb. What are you doing here? I thought you were still in Paris.” Sebastian walks to the side of Asher’s bed.
“One of the nurses called our parents, given they’re your next of kin. The Duke and Duchess still had some sightseeing to do, so they wired the hospital board members a tidy sum of money and told them to make sure none of the staff talked to the press.” Asher sighs.
“Sounds about right. So, again what areyoudoing here?”
Sebastian shrugs and brushes an invisible piece of lint off his shirt sleeve.
“Figured you might need a lift home…” Asher shoots him a cynical look. “Or something…” Sebastian’s voice trails off.
I don’t know Asher’s brother at all, but he seemsembarrassed to admit he wanted to be here for his younger sibling.
“How did you get here so fast?” Sebastian shrugs again and clenches his jaw. “Fuck off. You used the helicopter, didn’t you?”
Asher shakes his head and laughs but it quickly turns into a pained grunt. Sebastian and I both rush to his side but Sebastian beats me to it, and he grips Asher’s hand before I can.
“You scared me, dickhead,” he mutters, and I don’t miss the fleeting way Asher’s eyes brighten at his brother’s words.
The next half an hour is a flurry of activity as the technician and pharmacist both turn up together, and Asher finally gets the all clear to go home.
Unfortunately, it seems either someone at the race or maybe a staff member who didn’t get the privacy memo, has tipped off the paparazzi that the Pennington brothers are here, and there’s a crowd waiting in the hospital car park for a glimpse of them. Luckily, Luca arranges for us to leave out of a staff exit and manages to get us to his car without getting photographed.
The short trip back to the Pennington’s estate is made in awkward silence, and as soon as we get to the top of their long driveway, Sebastian is out of the car and into the house within seconds. I catch Luca smirking in the rear-view mirror, and I make a mental note to ask what the hell all that is about when Asher pipes up,
“Luca, how do you know where I live?”
“Let’s say the Messinas always do their homework. Wouldn’t trust you with my sister if I wasn’t sure of exactly who you are first. I had my people check you out weeks ago.”
“Your people?Great, so now half the mafi-” Luca holds his hand up, cutting him off.
“Can’t say I’m too impressed with what I found in the gossip pages, but the last couple of years you seem to have grown up.”
“Why thank you, sir.” Asher doffs a fake cap at my brother’s thinly veiled compliment.
My heart contracts seeing the banter exchanged between the two of them, and for the first time in my life, I see a future I can look forward to.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
ASHER
Even when I’m not moving, every part of my body aches. I know how lucky I am to have come away with a couple of broken bones, but I feel like I went twenty rounds with Tyson Fury. There’s not a single part of me that isn’t tender this morning.
Callie passes me some painkillers and a glass of water as I cautiously sit up in bed.
She’s dressed in one of my cashmere hoodies and a pair of my socks. The jumper is huge on her and hits mid-thigh.
Her silky hair is tucked behind her ears, and the look of concern on her face is adorable. Swallowing down the tablets with a swig of water, I put the glass down and pat the bed next to me. She sits down hesitantly, looking like she’s scared of hurting me.
“Callie. I’m fine. Seriously. Stopworrying.” I’m an insensitive prick. Her mother died in a car accident, and I’m telling her not to worry. Maybe I just need to show her instead. I pull off my t-shirt and throw it onto the floor, ignoring the screaming pain in my ribs as I do it. This is more important. Taking her hands, I place them on my bare chest.
“What are you doing?” she whispers. I guide her hands over my abs and pecs slowly.
“I’m showing you how okay I am.” She takes her time, and once she completes her examination of my body and sees I’m still here, albeit a little battered and bruised, she eventually relaxes. The painkillers have already started to kick in, and alongside her gentle touch, I can’t feel any effects of the accident at all.
I was so fucking lucky last night. I know that. It could have ended a hell of a lot worse than it did. When you truly have something worth losing, it changes your perspective on everything. My days of racing are over.
The only high I want to chase is here, in front of me, and she’s finally stopped running.
CALLIE
